U.S. patent application number 12/602998 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-13 for microphone.
This patent application is currently assigned to Sennheiser electronic GmbH & Co. KG. Invention is credited to Frank Plath, Jan Watermann.
Application Number | 20110007924 12/602998 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39713876 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110007924 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Plath; Frank ; et
al. |
January 13, 2011 |
Microphone
Abstract
Thus there is provided a microphone (10) having a first end (12)
with a first slip ring (100) which is divided into at least first
and second segments (GND, 300). The first slip ring (100)
co-operates with a microphone head (12) when the microphone head
(12) is fastened to the first end (12) of the microphone by means
of a screw connection. The microphone further has a detection unit
(16) coupled to the at least first and second segments (GND, 300)
of the first slip ring (100) to detect rotation of the microphone
head (12).
Inventors: |
Plath; Frank; (Wedemark,
DE) ; Watermann; Jan; (Hannover, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
TOWNSEND AND TOWNSEND AND CREW, LLP
TWO EMBARCADERO CENTER, EIGHTH FLOOR
SAN FRANCISCO
CA
94111-3834
US
|
Assignee: |
Sennheiser electronic GmbH &
Co. KG
Wedemark
DE
|
Family ID: |
39713876 |
Appl. No.: |
12/602998 |
Filed: |
June 6, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
June 6, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2008/057086 |
371 Date: |
September 20, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
381/355 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04R 1/083 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
381/355 |
International
Class: |
H04R 11/04 20060101
H04R011/04 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 8, 2007 |
DE |
10 2007 027 011.0 |
Claims
1. A microphone (10) having a first end (12) with a first slip ring
(100) which is divided into at least first and second segments
(GND, 300), wherein the first slip ring (100) co-operates with a
microphone head (12) when the microphone head (12) is fastened to
the first end (12) of the microphone by means of a screw
connection, and a detection unit (16) coupled to the at least first
and second segments (GND, 300) of the first slip ring (100) to
detect rotation of the microphone head (12).
2. A microphone as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a second
slip ring (200) having a plurality of third and fourth segments
(300, GND), and an identification unit (16) coupled to the third
and fourth segments (300, GND) of the second slip ring (200) to
provide for identification of the microphone head (12) when it is
screwed on.
3. A microphone as set forth in claim 2 wherein the third and
fourth segments (300, GND) are arranged in encoded fashion.
4. A microphone as set forth in one of claims 1 through 3 wherein a
first resistor (R.sub.ID) is arranged in the microphone head (12)
and a second resistor (R.sub.MEAS) is provided in the microphone
housing (11), wherein the first resistor (R.sub.ID) is electrically
connected to the second resistor (R.sub.MEAS) when the first slip
ring (100) is contacted with contacts (15) on the microphone
housing (11), wherein a measurement voltage (V.sub.MEAS) is applied
to the second resistor (R.sub.MEAS) and wherein a voltage between
the first and second resistors is measured in order thereby to
determine the first resistor with the microphone head (12) and thus
to identify the microphone head (12).
5. A microphone comprising a replaceable microphone head (12) and a
microphone housing (11), a second slip ring (200) having a
multiplicity of third and fourth segments (300, GND), a first
resistor (R.sub.ID) in the microphone head (12), and a second
resistor (R.sub.MEAS) in the microphone housing (11), wherein the
first resistor (R.sub.ID) is electrically connected to the second
resistor (R.sub.MEAS) when the first slip ring (100) is contacted
with contacts (15) on the microphone housing (11), wherein a
measurement voltage (V.sub.MEAS) is applied to the second resistor
(R.sub.MEAS) and wherein a voltage between the first and second
resistors is measured in order thereby to determine the first
resistor with the microphone head (12) and thus to identify the
microphone head (12).
Description
[0001] The present invention concerns a microphone.
[0002] Particularly in the case of microphones which have a
replaceable microphone head it is desirable to detect a change in a
microphone head. In conventional microphones use is made for that
purpose for example of leading contacts when the microphone head is
contacted by means of a plug connection.
[0003] As state of the art attention is directed to DE 905 494 B,
DE 40 32 007 A1, AT 268 400 B and U.S. Pat. No 4,002,859.
[0004] The object of the present invention is to provide a
microphone in which a change in a microphone head can be easily and
reliably detected.
[0005] That object is attained by a microphone as set forth in
claim 1.
[0006] Thus there is provided a microphone having a first end with
a first slip ring which is divided into at least first and second
segments. The first slip ring co-operates with the microphone head
when the microphone head is fastened to the first end of the
microphone by means of a screw connection. The microphone further
has a detection unit coupled to the at least first and second
segments of the first slip ring to detect rotation of the
microphone head.
[0007] In accordance with an aspect of the invention the microphone
has a second slip ring having a plurality of third and fourth
segments, and an identification unit coupled to the third and
fourth segments of the second slip ring to provide for
identification of the microphone head when it is screwed on.
[0008] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention
the third and fourth segments are arranged in encoded fashion.
[0009] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention
a first resistor is arranged in the microphone head and a second
resistor is provided in the microphone housing. The first resistor
is electrically connected to the second resistor when the first
slip ring is contacted with contacts on the microphone housing. A
measurement voltage is applied to the second resistor. A voltage
between the first and second resistors is measured in order thereby
to determine the first resistor with the microphone head and thus
to identify the microphone.
[0010] The invention also concerns a microphone having a
replaceable microphone head and a microphone housing. The
microphone further has a second slip ring with a plurality of third
and fourth segments, a first resistor in the microphone head and a
second resistor in the microphone housing. The first resistor is
electrically connected to the second resistor when the first slip
ring is contacted with contacts on the microphone housing. A
measurement voltage is applied to the second resistor. A voltage
between the first and second resistors is measured in order thereby
to determine the first resistor in the microphone head and thus to
identify the microphone head.
[0011] The invention concerns the concept of detecting whether a
microphone head of a microphone is rotated, for example for it to
be replaced. If a rotation of the microphone head is detected the
audio signal of the microphone can be muted so that it is possible
to prevent contacts of the microphone head causing noises in the
rotary movement. As an alternative thereto the microphone can be at
least partially deactivated. There is provided a first slip ring
having a plurality of segments. Furthermore, by detecting the
rotation of the microphone head it is possible to detect whether a
microphone head is screwed on to or into the microphone again. As
soon as the microphone head has been screwed on to or into the
microphone items of information in respect of the type of
microphone head can optionally be read out. According to an aspect
of the invention identification of the microphone head can be
effected by means of a second slip ring during or after the
microphone head has been screwed on or upon rotation of the
microphone head. It is thus possible to provide a microphone which
permits early detection of the rotation of the microphone and
optionally identification of the type of microphone head.
[0012] Further configurations of the invention are subject-matter
of the appendant claims.
[0013] Advantages and embodiments of the invention are described in
greater detail hereinafter with reference to the drawing.
[0014] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a microphone according
to the invention,
[0015] FIGS. 2a and 2b each show a diagrammatic view of slip rings
in a microphone according to the invention, and
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic circuit in a microphone
according to the invention.
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic view of a microphone according
to the invention. The microphone 10 has an end 13 to which a
microphone head 12 is fastened, preferably screwed. The microphone
head has at least one slip ring 100, 200 co-operating with contacts
15 at the first end 13 of the microphone housing 11. The contacts
15 are connected to a detection unit 16 for detecting rotation of
the microphone head 12.
[0018] FIGS. 2a and 2b each show a diagrammatic view of slip rings
in a microphone according to the present invention. For that
purpose the microphone 10 has a first end 13 to which a microphone
head 12 can be fastened for example by means of a screw connection.
The microphone head 12 typically has a microphone capsule for the
conversion of audio signals. The microphone head 12 is preferably
of a replaceable or interchangeable design so that a multiplicity
of different microphone heads can be used with the microphone.
[0019] The first slip rings 100 in FIG. 1 are arranged at the first
end 13 of the microphone. The first slip ring 100 serves as a
detection ring and has a multiplicity of segments (first and second
segments). In this arrangement adjacent segments are at different
potentials. Thus a multiplicity of first segments GND is connected
to ground while a multiplicity of second segments 300 is not
connected or is connected to a different potential.
[0020] In addition to the first slip ring 100 a second slip ring
200 can optionally be provided. That second slip ring 200 serves as
a data ring for identifying the microphone head. The second slip
ring 200 is also subdivided into a multiplicity of a plurality of
in particular third and fourth segments, wherein the first
multiplicity of segments is connected to ground and the second
multiplicity of segments is not connected or is connected to a
different potential.
[0021] When now the microphone head 12 is screwed on to the first
end 11 of the microphone, rotation of the microphone head 12
occurs, and rotation of the microphone head 12 and thus rotation of
the first slip ring 100 relative to the contacts 15, 500 generates
an alternating digital signal. That digital signal can be detected
and evaluated by means of a detection unit 16 in the microphone.
That unit 16 can be implemented for example in the form of a
microcontroller, an FPGA or a discrete circuit. Thus by means of
the alternating digital signal it is possible to detect whether the
microphone head 12 is or is not being rotated. If rotation of the
microphone head is detected then the audio output signal of the
microphone can be muted. If no further rotation occurs the audio
output signal of the microphone can be enabled again.
[0022] For reliable contacting of the microphone head in the
screwed-on condition, it is possible to provide two spring contacts
500, 512, 511 in the microphone head 12 or at the first end 11 of
the microphone, which are alternately connected to a respective one
of the segments to provide a higher level of contact
reliability.
[0023] The second slip ring 200 is optional and serves for
identification of the microphone head. Identification of the
microphone during the rotation of the microphone head can be
effected by means of the second slip ring 200. In that case the
third and fourth multiplicities of segments of the second slip ring
can be arranged in encoded relationship, that is to say the
segments are preferably not arranged at uniform spacings. The
segments can be arranged for example as a binary sequence
comprising a 7-bit Barker code, 8-bit data and 1-bit parity. If a
Barker code is used it is possible to find the beginning of the
sequence. The parity bit serves in that case to find errors in a
simple fashion.
[0024] The first slip ring 100 has a first and second multiplicity
of segments which are segmented at uniform spacings. That
arrangement of the segments means that the first slip ring 100 can
serve to generate a clock signal during identification by the
second slip ring 200 upon rotation of the microphone head (and
therewith the first slip ring relative to the contacts 15,
500).
[0025] According to a further embodiment of the invention
identification of the microphone head 12 can be effected by means
of the data ring 200 without the first slip ring 100 being used.
Thus in this embodiment the first slip ring 100 is only optionally
provided. The identification function in this embodiment
corresponds to the above-described function of identifying the
microphone head.
[0026] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic view of a microphone in a
further embodiment. The microphone has a microphone head 12 with a
resistor R.sub.ID and a transmitter or a housing 11 with a resistor
R.sub.MEAS, optionally an A/D converter 17 and an evaluation unit
16. A measurement voltage V.sub.MEAS is applied to the resistor
R.sub.MEAS. When the microphone 12 is screwed on to the housing 11,
contacting of the microphone head is effected by means of the slip
rings and the contacts 15 so that the resistor R.sub.ID of the
microphone head 12 is electrically connected to the resistor
R.sub.MEAS in the housing 11 and the A/D converter 17. That thus
provides a voltage divider with the two resistors. The resistor
R.sub.ID is selected specifically for each type of microphone head
so that clear identification is possible. By measuring the voltage
between the two resistors it is possible to determine which
resistor is provided in the microphone head 12 so that
corresponding identification of the microphone head 12 can be
effected.
[0027] Identification of the microphone head can thus be effected
as soon as there is an electrical contact between the microphone
head and the housing 11 of the microphone as from that moment in
time the voltage between the two resistors can be read off and
correspondingly evaluated.
* * * * *